Category Archives: Food Poisoning

UK Health Authorities Criticised – E.coli O157

Posted on October 4, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The UK Health Authorities have been criticised after an eight month E.coli outbreak has only recently been acknowledged but not publicised. The report in Food Production Daily states that the outbreak, which has been attributed to the handling of raw leeks and potatoes covered in contaminated soil, has only just recently been acknowledged. The outbreak consisted of 250 cases and one death and occurred between Decemebr 2010 and July 2011 and involved E.coli O157. The HPA have argued that the outbreak was not reported as the source was unknown.

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Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Microbiology, outbreak

USA Beef Recalled – Possible E.coli

Posted on October 3, 2011 by | Leave a comment

USA Beef Company Manning Beef – Recalling 80,000 pounds of beef due to suspected E.coli contamination. The products were produced on the 23/09/11.

Reuters Link

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Posted in E.coli, Food Poisoning, Microbiology, outbreak

11 Million Working Days Lost

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | 1 comment

UK Stomach bugs cause 11 million working to be lost each year according to joint research by the FSA and the University of Manchester. With Campylobacter and Norovirus being the two major causes. There has already been interest shown in testing food products for viruses and this type of data will only add to the pressure for looking at testing food for viruses. It also emphasises the FSA campaign for reducing Campylobacter levels in raw poultry in the UK.

Food Production Daily Report

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak

Listeria In Cheese Recall – France and Monaco

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Carrefour have recalled a range of cheeses from its stores in France and Monaco after they were found to contain Listeria monocytogenes. The products were sold in store between August 25th and September 13th but were immediately removed after the results of in-house testing.

There has been a recall and posters in store are warning customers of the dangers. Full report and product specifics can be found through the link below.

Food Production Daily Article

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Microbiology

FDA – Listeria on Jensen Farms Cantaloupes and Equipment

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Food Navigator USA reports that the presence of Listeria on Jensen Farms has been confirmed, to date 35 people across 10 states have been infected with 4 deaths. Another 2 deaths in New Mexico are being investigated by the FDA.

Listeria monocytogenes has been isolated from packaging equipment at the Colorado packaging site and in store on cantaloupes in Denver, thus confirming the source of the outbreaks.

Food Navigator USA

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, outbreak

CDC Releases Data on Food Illness USA 2008

Posted on September 19, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The CDC have released a full report on Foodborne illness in the USA for 2008. During 2008, the most recent year for which data are finalised, 1,034 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported, which resulted in 23,152 cases of illness, 1,276 hospitalisations, and 22 deaths. Among the 479 outbreaks with a laboratory-confirmed single etiological agent reported, norovirus was the most common, accounting for 49% of outbreaks and 46% of illnesses. Salmonella was the second most common, accounting for 23% of outbreaks and 31% of illnesses. Among the 218 outbreaks attributed to a food vehicle with ingredients from only one of 17 defined food commodities (3), the top commodities to which outbreaks were attributed were poultry (15%), beef (14%), and finfish (14%), whereas the top commodities to which outbreak-related illnesses were attributed were fruits and nuts (24%), vine-stalk vegetables (23%), and beef (13%).

Full CDC Report Link

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak

Canadian – E.coli Killer

Posted on September 15, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Food Production Daily has reported that a Canadian Company called Theralase Technologies is stating that they have a new technology that has ‘unprecedented destruction’ of the E.coli bacteium. Their patented Photo Dynamic Compounds (PDCs) is already established but can be used via another application. They are claiming a 7 -log destruction for a 10 minute exposure and the application seems best suited to the sterilisation of food preparation equipment but would have other applications in different industries. It is thought that it will be effective with all E.coli speicies. The link for the full article is below.

Food Production Daily

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Posted in E.coli, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology

Food Safety in the USA

Posted on September 15, 2011 by | Leave a comment

A report in Food Navigator – USA suggests that even though the levels of incidence of food related illness is rising the population are less concerned about food safety than they were.

The survey also makes some distinction between low and high income families with the former in general more concerned over food safety.

The survey also showed that people were concerned the most about the food safety of meat, produce seafood and then dairy. Interestingly the concern over fresh produce has increased whilst the concern over meat has dropped. This may have been affected by recent high-profile food illness outbreaks associated by fresh produce including the recent Salmonella in Papaya and Listeria in cantaloupes.

There is a link to the full survey from the Food Navigator USA Article

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Posted in Food Poisoning, Microbiology

Banning E.coli from Beef – The ‘Big 6’

Posted on September 15, 2011 by | Leave a comment

A report from Reuters has broken the news that the US Government will ban the sale of beef if found to contain one of six types of E.coli. At present E.coli 0157:H7 is already banned but this is to be followed by E. coli, 026, 011, 045, 0121, 0103 and 0145. These are being called the ‘Big 6’

Reuters News Article Link

 

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Posted in E.coli, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology